Congress MPs challenge appointment of Dushyant Kumar Gautam as Governor

Selja accused the ruling party of shielding figures implicated in the 2022 case, suggesting the appointment serves as a strategic maneuver to bypass accountability. The controversy deepened after Delhi Police detained the victim’s parents and opposition leaders during a protest at India Gate, a move that sparked further outrage regarding the government's handling of the victim’s quest for justice.

Ankita’s parents have issued a 24-hour ultimatum, demanding the appointment be suspended until a thorough investigation clears Gautam’s name. They are specifically calling for the public release of call records and location data for both Dushyant Kumar Gautam and Ajay Kumar covering the days surrounding the murder. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has formally requested that President Droupadi Murmu reconsider the gubernatorial appointment, citing the prolonged pace of the CBI investigation and the persistent, unanswered questions regarding the identity of the 'VIP' allegedly linked to the crime. Ankita Bhandari was murdered in September 2022, and her body was recovered from the Chilla Canal days later.